Another Odisha ashram under cloud after arrest of two criminals

The Trahi Achyuta ashram in Jhinti Sasan under Balakati police station limits on the outskirts of the Odisha capital is under a cloud of suspicion post the arrest of two dreaded Bihar criminals employed by the ashram four days ago.

A team of Special Task Force from Bihar, with the help of Laxmisagar police station staff, had arrested two notorious criminals from Bihar from the capital city four days ago.

As many as 40 criminal cases are pending against the two hardcore criminals—Abhay Singh and Manjeet Saha – in various police stations in Bihar. At least nine cases of murder are registered against the duo who were on the run since last 17 years.

Besides murder, the accused were also involved in dacoity, bombing, kidnapping, burglary and loot cases.

The absconders had allegedly taken shelter at the Trahi Achyuta ashram in Jhinti Sasan under the Balakati police station limits on the outskirts of the city. They were working as van drivers in the ashram apart from extending their services during various religious functions at the ashram.

On the day of their arrest, the Twin City Commissioner of Police Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma had said that the two were living in Achyuta Nagar and had no connection with the ashram.

A ‘Sambad’ investigation, however, reveals that the two criminals had constructed their house in Achyuta Nagar under the ashram limits.

Notably, around 1000 families are living in Achyuta Nagar colony, which is adjacent to the ashram. Interestingly, none of them belongs to the village or even to Odisha. All the inhabitants are from various parts of the country.

“Trahi Achyuta ashram is a tourist place. It is not possible to verify the identity and antecedents of all the visitors to the ashram. The duo was living in Achyuta Nagar since last 17 years. They had purchased vehicles and were ferrying devotees from Railway station to the ashram. They were decent and well-behaved. It is not possible to know anybody’s past. Moreover, we had got no clue about them,” Achyuta Nagar Committee member, Satyaranjan Patnaik said.

Everyday, hundreds of devotees come to the ashram for darshan of the Lords. For this, dedicated vans have been put into service from Bhubaneswar Railway station and other locations of the city to the ashram. The two arrested criminals from Bihar were also engaged in driving vans since last 17 years.

When asked how could these criminals stay at the ashram for close to two decades without anyone knowing about them, the disciples and the employees of the ashram tried to dodge the queries. The said Achyut Nagar has no connection with the ashram.

“The trustee has no knowledge about the two persons arrested recently. If the police had known that they were criminals, why didn’t they communicate it to us? This is a religious place and there is no restriction on the visit of devotees,” Achyutananda Trust member Manoranjan Acharya said.

“They were well-mannered and very quiet. How could guruji know ones past?” asked an employee of the ashram.

It may be mentioned that after committing crimes in Bihar, the two accused had fled Bihar and came to Bhubaneswar in an effort to avoid arrest after NBWs were issued against them.